Thursday, January 10, 2008 Police to field 1,830 personnel to secure festival’s activities
WITH Sinulog festivities officially starting today, police and military officials went over plans to make sure the activities, particularly the grand parade on Jan. 20, will be secure.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos yesterday called for a final security briefing for the Sinulog Task Force.
During the conference, authorities agreed to field 1,830 police personnel for the festivities, particularly during the parade. These police personnel will come from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 7, recruits from the Regional Training School (RTS) and those who are undergoing further schooling.
The number does not include military personnel who will be detailed on parade routes to help with crowd control.
To avoid a vacuum in the number of security personnel on the evening of Jan. 20, Roderos said that only 80 percent will be deployed during the day, and the rest will start taking their posts from 5 p.m. onwards.
This will be done to replace police personnel who will already be exhausted after working the entire day.
Roderos also said the provincial police will help in the security because the CCPO, under Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., who is also the Sinulog Task Force chief, will have their hands full securing the event.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will conduct joint checkpoints from the southern town of Santander to the northern parts of Cebu.
Canine units from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Philippine Air Force will also be detailed in different areas of the parade route. Roderos said the CCPO’s Mobile Patrol Group has been tasked to identify the areas where these will be fielded.
Wireless surveillance cameras will be installed on the parade routes. He said the PRO 7 will also borrow from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) door-sized metal detectors that will be set up at the entrance of Abellana Sports Center.
The Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Police 7 were also reminded yesterday to strictly implement the “no overloading policy” during the fluvial parade to avoid accidents.
During the grand festivity, drinking liquor and using huge speakers on the parade route will be prohibited, Roderos said. Organizers have also banned the giving out of product samples from endorsers riding the floats.
Authorities will not allow the lighting or throwing of firecrackers along the parade route.
Roderos also asked people who will either be watching the grand parade or joining the religious processions to avoid bringing too much money or jewelry. Immediately report to the nearest police action center or station if you see any suspicious person or packages, he added. (JST)
